Thermal expansion

Thermal expansion, or thermal expansion, refers to the change in geometric dimensions, i.e. the length, area and volume of a body, which can be triggered by temperature fluctuations depending on the material. It is referred to as thermal expansion because most materials expand under the increased influence of heat. Conversely, the term is used to describe the process of thermal contraction of bodies when they are cooled and thus exposed to less heat. Thus, the term heat does not stand here, as in common usage, for an objective-measuring assessment of whether an object fulfills the property warm in relation to its opposite cold, but rather heat is in this case a term for a unit that makes statements about temperature differences. Thermal expansion plays a major role in both manufacturing and testing processes, just as it does for smooth concentric running. If a component is generally exposed to changing temperature conditions in final operation or is moved in assembly with other parts, i.e., if frictional heat could arise from material expansion, it makes sense to consider thermal expansion of materials in their component applications.